Africa, the home of matriarchal societies, teaches us to trace our lineage through our women. Often times, power was passed not to the King's son, but to his sister's son. This system is called mother-right. In addition, the Queen Mother played a prominent role in these societies.

Mansa Kankan Musa was a flamboyant 14th century leader and world figure. In 1324, Mansa Musa (Mali emperor) made his famous pilgrimage to Mecca with a caravan which numbered in the tens of thousands. During the 6,496 mile journey, he left so much gold in his wake that it depressed the price of gold in Egypt and surrounding areas for years to come. Mansa Musa, the original #1 Stunna!!!!

Fam-i-ly (fam-i-lee) n. 1.) parents and their children....4.) all the descendants of a common ancestor, their line of descent.

His-to-ry (his-to-ree) n. 1.) A continuous methodical record of important or public events. 2. past events, those connected with a person or thing.

We salute our elders for laying the foundation for our future. They have toiled long and hard to provide us with the opportunity to excel, and excel we must. The journey has been long and storied, and many of our elders carry the tales of their epic journey around with them everyday. The most important lesson we've learned in recent times is that oral history is no history. It opens the door to having your history subverted or even erased completely.

Therefore, we must learn from our past and begin to document, in detail, the achievements, trials, and tribulations of a great people, a family. Let the journey begin.... Enter Family History Here!!!

"Because we have lost the path our ancestors cleared, our children cannot find their way"
-Maya Angelou, "The Black Family Pledge"

Family Matters

Family Reunion - 2005

"A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast, does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes...We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so."
-Chinua Achebe

Am I my brother's keeper? We answer with a resounding, Yes, you are! Start planning now for the 2005 family reunion. It is sure to be a good time for all. Meet a distant cousin, play spades or bones with a childhood friend, or listen to stories of life in the 50's, 60's, and 70's.

"We do not pray to have money, but to have more kinsmen. We are better than animals because we have kinsmen. An animal rubs his itching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsmen to scratch it."
-Chinua Achebe, "Things Fall Apart"

Family Totem

To-tem (toh-tem) n.

1.) a natural object, especially an animal, adopted .... as the emblem of a clan or family.

African peoples have practiced totemism for at least the last 6000 years, beginning with the Ancient Egyptians. The practice continues today!